Rwanda’s Congo Nile Trail

Rwanda’s Congo Nile Trail hiking, walking, and cycling

This fascinating path and uncommon adventure travel cornerstone are only found in sub–Saharan Africa. This unique distant feeling area is accessible for independent travelers. The excellent network of local roads and trails goes along the shore of Lake Kivu in Rwanda one of the East African countries. It is developing popularly year by year, but of now it offers just the right blend of accessible infrastructure. Rwanda’s Congo Nile Trail

On the Congo Nile trail, you will find your adventure. If you like exploring the captivating countryside and small villages, waking up on the shore of an island-studded lake, falling asleep to the effect of a thunderstorm, and exchanging comedy with excited locals.

The Congo Nile trail still stands out as a unique and hard-to-forgotten experience among the many beautiful parts of Rwanda. If you are given the Congo Nile Trail as your next dose of adventure travel feel free to contact Safari Vacations and Travel Services for all the details about how to prepare and what to expect.

Rwanda’s Congo Nile Trail at a Look

Mode of transportation:

mountain biking or hiking

• Time 2-10 days
• Guide – optional

Accommodation:

guests houses or camping

Food:

buy meals and snacks along the way

Features:

Helpful locals, interesting villages gorgeous scenery, etc.

Challenge:

Heat, hills, acute attention from the locals

Rwanda Travel Summary

Rwanda is one of the simplest African countries to travel in. There is so much information that can help you in preparing for Rwanda in general but here we give you a quick summary before going into details of the Congo Nile Trail.

Visas and getting in

Of recent, Rwanda made it simpler to visit than ever, anyone from any country can be with a 30-day visa on arrival without advance application.

Getting there

You will favorably arrive by plane at Kigali International Airport smart and comfortable buses also run from neighboring countries. But with safari vacations and travel services. We provide clients with transfers from and to the airport without professional driver guides for the best experience.

When to go;

Well, Rwanda is not so hot in terms of weather as many of its neighbors, and it does receive a lot of rain, therefore avoiding the wet season is your major concern unless you love being always soggy prioritize June to September for dry weather (not dry) or December to February as your next choice. During the day it can be so humid and nights can be chilly depending on where you are.

Religion and Culture

A large number of Rwandans are Christians and are even split between protestants and Catholics. The culture is not all the way conservative as far as African countries go, but certainly more conservative than most Western countries and makes it pay less conservative, especially outside the capital city of Kigali. As for the female tourists can wear pants even though most of the local women wear skirts. Tight-fitting pants or skirts above the knees might be seen as strange or disrespectful, especially in rural areas.

While the impact may not be too obvious to most visitors. It is ideal to understand that every Rwandan you come across above 24 years of age has gone through the genocide. During three months in 1994, an estimated one million Rwandese perished in brutal deaths at the hands of their neighbors in an ethnically motivated genocide spearheaded by the then government. That’s 14% of Rwanda’s population at the time. These people don’t usually talk about it, so our advice would be for you not to ask unless you know someone so well or they show a willingness to discuss it for that matter, the genocide memorial museum in Kigali is worth a visit if you want to understand more about the contrast between Rwanda’s dark history and clan, organized orderly and community focused country today.

Health

Research this totally, beginning with the  CDC website and a travel doctor. You will need some vaccinations and malaria protective pills. While you are there, either drink bottled water or purify all drinking water with chlorine dioxide or any other method that is effective against bacteria, viruses, and viruses. (most major backpacking filters sold in North America do not meet this last criterion.

Safety

Rwanda currently has a better record as a safe country with lower crime rates. This matches my experience even though I was only there for only two weeks. No wonder, it is always key to think about the guidelines for staying safe when roaming around in an unfamiliar place.

Transportation can be the highest risk most tourists engage in many African countries be vigilant while selecting a motorbike and driver and stay off the roads after dark.

In the west, where the Congo Nile trail is, there is a standing travel warning from some of the Western governments and authorities due to the place’s proximity to ongoing conflict in the democratic republic of Congo examine this before you go to make sure that things have not gone out of hands, but in recent years this has not been an issue on the Rwandan side.

Money

The Rwandan Franc serves as the primary currency for most transactions. Additionally, some tour operators commonly accept payments in USD for larger amounts. As of the time of writing this article, the conversion rate was approximately 880 RF to USD. Credit cards and ATMs are not widely utilized, particularly in smaller towns (and are not available on the Congo Nile Trail). Therefore, it is advisable to carry a sufficient amount of cash in a secure manner, such as in a money belt or an internal pocket. Euros and US dollars can be easily exchanged for Rwandan Francs at banks and forex bureaus.

Female travelers

Unaccompanied travelers through different African countries Rwanda has stood as one of the countries where you will experience your safari adventure safely as a woman traveling alone. Rwandans are respectful and private which will make you comfortable as a single female tourist.

Rwanda’s Congo Nile Trail Overview

Rwanda’s Congo Nile Trail, The full Congo Nile trail is a 227km (141 miles) route stretching along the shores of Lake Kivu in western Rwanda, from Gisenyi/Rubavu in the north to Cyangugu in the south.

Originally, travel agencies expected travelers to complete it as a roughly 10-day hike or a 5-day bike ride.

Since 2014, when the southern half from Kibuye to Cyangugu was paved, it has become more common to only traverse the northern half. Those interested in covering the entire route can accomplish this in 4-5 days of hiking or 2-3 days of biking. Rwanda’s Congo Nile Trail

It’s certainly possible, but hiking on the tarmacked road would be considerably less engaging and enjoyable than the dirt paths and roads in the northern half. For cycling, I would recommend using the tarmacked portion for added convenience.

The majority of the route is a single-lane dirt road that winds along the shore of Lake Kivu, sometimes close enough to touch the water, most of the time high enough to enjoy a lovely view of it. You will be walking through villages, alongside farmland, and down roads used by the locals e.g. they go about their daily business.

The route signage seems to still be a work in progress with shiny new signs in the beginning that prefer out to sometimes contradictory directions from locals by the end. Perfect for easing into that sense of adventure most people travel the trail from north to south, which currently makes the most sense since the northern section is more developed and an easier start.

Safari Vacations and Travel Services designs itineraries in Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC with over 10 years of experience and we are proud of our reputation for executing some of the most highly-rated vacation experiences. Our local consultants plan your preferred itinerary using expert ground knowledge. We take care of all the local logistics like permits, accommodation, and transport. And also, manage your entire trip, from start to finish.

And for inquiries, advice on how to plan for this safari, booking the hiking permits; organizing transport and accommodation, getting in touch with safari vacations and travel services, we help you to avoid inconveniences after you have arrived for the safari.